Entrepreneur finds creative way to help

USING polymer clay, and with plenty of time on her hands during the hard lockdown, Liya Barlow, 9, went from being your average girl next door to a professional jewellery maker.

While playing around with clay, Liya developed skills that turned her artistry into colourful, edgy statement jewellery which became popular among her family and friends in Silvertown.

“My business started small. When my mom and I visited shops, we would get clay and I would start sculpting some ideas.

“I wasn’t always confident and happy with the outcome but then, when I started to add more details, I started to believe in myself more and believe in what I was doing,” said Liya.

When the young entrepreneur’s mother, Janice Barlow, noticed Liya’s creativity, she encouraged her to master her craft, look into turning it into a business, and to inspire others to follow what makes them happy.

“When I saw how talented she was, and how she could build and design things out of prestik, I told her to continue as she found joy in making them.

“She has a strong desire to give back to the community and enjoys doing so. By telling her story, she hopes to serve as an encouragement for others,” said Barlow.

With plans to have a pop-up shop, and to share her skills with other girls in the community, Liya said she hopes to inspire and uplift other children with her business.

“The motto of my business is: ‘May the love you have go to others in need, so that they can enjoy the love too.’

“My advice to other young girls would be to make an idea book and write down what they want to do.

“You must research, never give up and never get discouraged from following your dreams because we are the generation called the alpha generation and we have to make this world a better place so that everyone else can live in peace with one another,” she said.

Liya will have her first table at the

Olive Cat Market in Melkbosstrand soon. She looks forward to selling goods to raise money to help other girls in her community.

| SUPPLIED WHAT started as a pastime for Liya Barlow, 9, has turned it into a company selling polymer clay jewellery.